WITNEY & DISTRICT YOUTH
FOOTBALL LEAGUE
2011/2012 SEASON - POSTPONEMENT REPORTING
Please read all of the following before continuing with reporting a match postponement.
Any match that is postponed by a team will be treated as an invalid postponement until all the provided documentation has been reviewed and the League is satisfied that all efforts have been made to play the match.
There are two types of form for reporting the different types of postponement required. Once you have established the correct form for your postponement click on the link for the form type to continue.
Postponement Form #1 - The most common is the postponement where a playable pitch cannot be found - usually because of weather conditions. Both teams are to make all possible efforts to play the match.
If the normal venue is not available then the home club can either find an alternate venue or an attempt should be made to play the match on the opponents pitch - this would be a 'reversed fixture' in which the home team is still fully responsible for the home team duties - it is just that the away team's pitch is being used. The League will then expect clubs to 'reverse' the next fixture if there is still one to be played - but it may be that later pitch conditions mean that both home and away fixtures have to be played on the same pitch.
Once all efforts have been made to find an alternate venue have been exhausted - then you will need to submit Postponement Form #1. This must be done as soon as you know the match is being postponed. Remember that if it turns out that the away team were prepared to host the match then you may have no valid reason to postpone the match. If you want to send in the form via email or Royal Mail then you can download a RTF form to print from here.
Postponement Form #2 - For matches that have to be postponed for a reason not under the 'weather/unsuitable pitch' situation - then this form is to be used. For this type of postponement you must submit written evidence proving that the match could not be played.
Remember that as long as the League is informed - there is no reason why the two teams involved do not try and play the match on an alternate day at the fixtured weekend - so play Saturday instead of Sunday. If this is done remember to let the League and referee know well in advance.
Managers should also make efforts to educate parents in informing them when a player is going to be away. Several players going on a weekend event takes some organising so it should not be a shock to the manager to discover this two days before the match. It is not acceptable to the League for such short notice - so the manager should not accept this from the parents. The League expects at least eight days notice of such postponements.
Please read Rule 25D regarding requests due to a manager/coach not being available, or players being unavailable due to non-school activities.
If you still have at least nine players still available (seven for mini-soccer) then you will be expected to play the match and postponing may be seen as 'refusal to play'.
Once you are convinced that the match is to be postponed - you must inform the League and referee as soon as possible. You will have to send in a copy of the postponement form and a cheque for £5 to the League within 24 hours of the postponement and all the written paperwork such as signed letters from doctors/parents or a school must be with the League within 14 days of this postponement. This is 14 days after of the postponement and not 14 days after the date the match was due to be played.
A letter is required for every unavailable registered player. A note from the manager saying that a registered player was not available as he has moved away is not expectable. If you know a player can no longer play then they should be de-registered to avoid problems later.
The initial reporting of the postponement can be done by filling in Postponement Form #2. But, you will need to follow this up within 24 hours with a cheque for £5 and a signed paper copy of the official form (not a screen image) which can be downloaded in RTF format from here. The rest of the documentation must be received by the Fixtures Secretary within 14 days.
Do not assume a postponement is valid until you hear from the League.
Depending on the actions of the manager, the submitted paperwork and the reasons given, invalid postponements can invoke fines and also games being awarded.